border patrol

Despite a September announcement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on its commitment to alter its use of force policies and procedures, recent revelations from the Southern Borders Communities Coalition (SBCC) illustrate a lack of interest on following through with reforms.

This second installment of the Faces of Racial Profiling series tells the story of Jesus Martinez, whose mentally impaired son, Alex, was killed by border patrol agents in 2011 in the state of Washington.

The story Jesus tells reveals the racial profiling that happens in border communities around language. Border patrol agents showed up at Jesus’ home simply because he called 911 for assistance for his son and spoke in Spanish.

Jesus is still seeking justice and an independent investigation into the death of his son.

Lawfully present immigrants and U.S. citizens have been harassed by Border Patrol agents in New York State, with a disproportionate impact on people of color, according to a report by RWG member Families for Freedom. According to data collected through FOIA litigation in Rochester, New York, Border Patrol’s “show me your papers” policy and aggressive immigration enforcement tactics in the interior of the U.S.